Preserving the Past, Building the Future in Bristol
I met Kris Truelsen first at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, and three very friendly people met me there. Grace Shoun, Steve Tauscher, and June Marshall. (I suppose these are the types of people you want greeting you at a museum!) They helped me to locate the man I had arrived to meet. Kris is the Program Director of Radio Bristol which is a living history exhibit of Appalachian culture and life.
Kris is a very enthusiastic fellow. Now, when I say that, I mean this guy is on fire with his work, and with Appalachian culture, history, music, and people.
He moved to the area specifically to attend Eastern Tennessee State University, where he was the first person to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Appalachian Studies.
Kris is a musician in his own right, currently playing with the band Country Casserole and previously with the popular Johnson City band Bill and the Belles. He also owns a small flower farm just over the state line in Bristol, Tennessee.
Kris produces and hosts several shows on Radio Bristol. He also created and currently hosts a show that has a history at Radio Bristol. Farm and Fun Time is a show that has been around since the 1940s and 50s at the original Radio Bristol. I sat down and talked with Kris about his journey in Appalachia and his ideas of how radio can help foster a stronger community.
A Living, Breathing Exhibit
Walking into the museum’s McLaughlin Performance Theater, Kris pointed out that the space serves as both a public venue and a performance hall for his shows. “This is our 10th anniversary for Radio Bristol and Farm and Fun Time,” he told me, “We came out in 2025 with all big shows over at the Paramount… but we’ll be back over there in 2026.”
The excitement in his voice was evident, especially when he talked about the intimate shows in the 100-seat theater. “Some of the artists that we get in here, it’s just amazing to see them in such an intimate space,” he said, recalling a Cumbia band from California that played recently. This blend of traditional and unexpected genres is a testament to the station’s mission to both honor history and embrace the new.
This drive for innovation is what makes Radio Bristol much more than a static exhibit. As Kris explained, the idea to create a working radio station was a significant shift for the museum. “We decided not to make it static and to create an actual radio station as a living, working exhibit,” he said.
Now that we’ve reached 10 years, we’re starting to find our rhythm. Still, the scope of the station has shifted… we have gradually evolved into more of an actual community radio station, featuring a wide variety of styles and genres of music.
The Legacy of the 1927 Bristol Sessions
The museum’s main focus is on the 1927 Bristol Sessions, a crucial event in music history where producer Ralph Peer recorded acts like The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Other musicians were recorded during this time, such as Ernest Stoneman, Alfred G. Karnes, Blind Alfred Reed, and the Shelor Family, among many more. These recordings, often called the “Big Bang” of country music, form the foundation of everything the museum and radio station do.
The legacy of these sessions is so significant that a luxury boutique hotel in downtown Bristol, housed in three historic buildings, is named The Sessions Hotel to honor them. The hotel, part of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio, features a musical theme, with rooms decorated with artwork and details inspired by the 1927 recordings.
The spirit of these sessions lives on through the radio station. Kris pointed to a display with a vintage microphone, a gift from WCYB. “Farm and Fun Time was a show that was originally owned by WCYB back in the 1940s,” he explained.
“When I started Radio Bristol, I went to WCYB and got permission and got the copyright for Farm and Fun Time, and then resurrected it.” He noted that the original show launched first-generation bluegrass artists like Flatt and Scruggs and The Stanley Brothers, who were the first house band.
“For a long time, no one knew what Farm and Fun Time was except for people in this region,” Kris shared. Now, with the show being a nationally syndicated PBS television program, its influence is spreading far and wide.
Community, Support, and Global Reach
As a low-power FM station, Radio Bristol broadcasts with just under 90 watts, but it has a powerful reach thanks to its online streaming and mobile app.
Kris credits community involvement for the station’s success. “We’ve got about 35 DJs currently, 30 of whom are all in the Bristol area that come in and do it live,” he told me. “It’s the voice of our region.” This is in contrast to the modern-day “culture deserts” that tend to occur when local media outlets fade away. For Kris and his team, the station is a way to ensure that local voices and music are heard.
The station’s impact is clear through its financial support. “Radio Bristol is a listener-supported radio station, and we rely on our local community and listeners to help keep us on the air,” Kris explained. “We beat our stretch goal this year” during their annual fund drive, which shows that listeners are engaged and value the station’s mission. This financial support proves the trust and commitment of our listeners to the station’s mission and future.
The support, however, isn’t just local. “Our global listenership is really, really strong,” he said. “We have listeners in the U.K., Sweden, Germany, and Japan, and all over the world.” This global audience, he believes, is made up of people who “know and respect the music of this region globally” and want to hear the diverse sounds of a thriving Appalachian culture.
Kris has a personal passion for community, as he is also a farmer. He discussed the links between farming, music, and the arts, emphasizing the importance of platforms that promote sustainable agriculture. The Farm and Fun Time show even features a monthly farm report video, which is produced in-house and is a partnership between Radio Bristol and the Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council (ARCD Council). “It’s been cool also to build this platform to try to get the word out about sustainable farming and related issues,” he said.
This sense of responsibility extends to newcomers like me. Kris expressed respect for the diverse perspectives they bring. “I think it’s really important to have people from outside the region feel like they can be part of the community and have community involvement,” he said. “People from outside of this area can sort of see things in a different way than people who’ve grown up in it.”
The conversation was full of passion and respect for the people, culture, and history of the Bristol area. It’s clear that Kris Truelsen, along with his dedicated staff, including General Manager Josh Littleton and the team of over 30 local DJs, has a vision for the future where radio, even in an age of digital media, can be a vibrant, essential part of community life.
Tune In and Support Radio Bristol
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Birthplace of Country Music organization depends on community support. Donations are tax-deductible and help keep the museum, the music festival, and Radio Bristol running. You can donate at their website, BirthplaceofCountryMusic.org/Donate.
Their donor levels are:
- Friend ($25-$99)
- Partner ($100-$499)
- Innovator ($500-$999)
- Visionary ($1,000-$2,499)
- Champion ($2,500+)
You can listen to Radio Bristol and enjoy their programming in several ways:
- On the radio: Tune in to 100.1 FM in the Bristol area.
- Online: Stream their music and shows directly from their website: ListenRadioBristol.org
- On your phone: Download the Radio Bristol app, available for both Apple and Android devices.
- Programming: See the full programming schedule and learn about the hosts at ListenRadioBristol.org/schedule.
